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Kit, Cyberhobby 6613, VK.45.02(P)V
Product Specifications. 6613, VK.45.02(P)V. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 337 injection-molded styrene parts (including 21 clear), two lengths of DS100soft styrene track, one photo-etched fret, one turned aluminum gun tube, two pieces of braided metal wire, one piece of metal rod, one sheet of water-slide decals and six pages of instructions in 11 steps. Introduction. The VK.45.02(P)V was the Porsche design firms ill-fated entry into the competition to produce what eventually emerged as the Tiger II, or Tiger Ausf.B. An overly ambitious design, the VK.45.02(P) used two engines to drive two electric motors to power the tracks, and a torsion bar suspension system that was self-contained in three external bogies on each side of the hull. References mention that after the contracts were cancelled, three hulls were still being completed, but that is where the story ends. Nevertheless, the 50 turrets that had already been built by Krupp, for the Porsche design, were eventually modified and fitted to the first Henschel Tiger IIs, leading many to erroneously refer to the turrets as Porsche products. This vehicle was essentially a Paper Panzer, and therefore is probably not considered to be a main-stream item amongst modelers. So, DML has relegated this release to their specialist outlet, Cyberhobby, as a limited edition white box item. Before anyone gets up in arms over this, because their favorite item was not released instead, I will suggest a simple solution: stop reading this report and forget about this release. The VK.45.02(P) is largely based upon previously-available DML kit components. All of the tools and associated fittings, the tracks and suspension system, the turret, main and secondary armament are old while the superstructure and hull, along with their specific fittings are all-new. In addition, the etched brass fret is completely new. Also in the box is a mystery sprue of clear parts, containing parts from DMLs Tiger I kits. Tracks. These consist of single lengths for each side, in flexible DS100 styrene. They can be fixed with standard styrene cements and can also show sag better by being glued to the appropriate road-wheels. This material takes paint very well and when finished will look quite good. Suspension Syetem. The torsion bar arms are fully detailed and include separate end caps, while the wheel hubs properly represent both types, one of which protruded further than the other; be careful when you fix them in place. The suspension will articulate to a certain degree after assembly and the idler sprocket can be adjusted, which will help if the modeler opts to install after-market individual-link tracks; this means that the modeler wont come up with too many or too few links at the last moment. Hull. The hull molding comes from a slide-mold and has complete details on the sides and belly plate. It is largely based on the Elefant/Ferdinand hulls previously released by DML, but it has been modifiedto a certain degree in order to fit the new superstructure. The molded-on detail includes weld beads, access plates, drain plugs, panels and various rivets. Aside from the suspension components, various mud scrapers are added. The lower bow plate is also integrally-molded and includes interlocked armor plate joints with weld details. The stern plate is a separate part, to which a multi-part jack, jack block, tow eyes, U-shaped tow clevises and trailer hitch are added. Superstructure. This consists of a large, completely-new molding that includes integrally-molded track-guards. The glacis plate is well-detailed, to include weld beads and armor plate interlocks. A multi-part Kugelblende (ball mount) for the Gen2 MG34 is provided as is a drivers view-port. Two separate parts provide track-guard support braces and there are also separate front mud-flaps, complete with separate retainer springs. The roof plate has almost all of its details molded in place. These include engine access panels with opened grill-work and separate grab-handles. Etched brass frames and screens cover the grills, and while there is a detail that I suspect is the cover plate for the rod antenna mount and base, none of the latter parts are provided. This is probably the result of little concrete information being available to the kits designers, but I still think the antenna parts could have been included. Other molded-on detail includes the turret ring race and what I presume is an all-around turret ring guard, situated at the roof plates perimeter. Back aft, there are more track-guard braces on each side as well as separate rear mud-flaps with separate spring retainer. The side plates are where all the action is. Here, the modeler adds the tools, all of which have three-part etched tool clamps and other etched detail bits as appropriate. The port side gets a bunch of etched brass brackets for a choice of two different tow cables, each of which are made up of styrene end loops and braided metal wire cables. This option is repeated on the starboard side. The tools mounted on the starboard side include a shovel, long-handled axe, long pry-bar, wire cutters and a sledgehammer. Both the port and starboard sides also mount a multi-part Tarnscheinwerfer-Bosch black-out head-lamp, way up forward. There are a number of extra parts provided, which are shaded as not for use. These include C-shaped tow hooks, tubular distance-keeping tail-lamp (with clear part) and a fire extinguisher. These are all standard OVM for German AFVs, so I would use them as well. Since this is largely a fictional vehicle, their placement, if logical, should be considered by the modeler. Turret. The turret is very well done and comes from a multi-part slide-mold. This is necessary in order to properly render the various details, angles and under-cuts. The front plate is molded in place and has openings for the co-axial MG34 as well as the gunners sight. All detail parts are separate and include multiple parts for the loaders hatch lid, two types of fan vent covers and shell ejector port hatch lid. A Nahverteidigungswaffe (close defense weapon) with internal details and closed or open (slide-molded) port is provided. The rear escape hatch is very completely detailed inside and out. It features a removable MP-Stopfen (pistol port plug) that can be shown opened and hanging on its etched brass retaining chain; etched brass parts with metal rod for hinge pins are also given for the plate seen over the inner mechanism. The latter can also be replicated using a styrene part. There are actually two commanders cupolas in the box; one has rain channels cut into it, the other does not. Each uses slide molds to correctly render the opened periscope covers and also includes a new hatch lid, with internal details, as well as clear periscope heads. There is an extra clear scope head, designated as not for use in the instructions. The modeler can use it in place of the molded-on solid styrene head for the loaders periscope mount. There is also a Fliegerbeschusgerat (anti-aircraft mount for an MG34) for the cupola ring; however no MG34 is provided for it and it is shaded as not for use. Other parts for the turret include a separate piece to fit under the commanders cupola overhang, which is apparently embellished with an etched brass part (the instructions are not absolutely clear in this regard). Three separate parts are given so that if the modeler wishes, Pilzen mounts for the 2-ton Kran can be installed on the turret roof. There are two 8.8cm L/71 mono-block gun tubes provided in the box; one is a turned aluminum part with a slide-molded, multi-part muzzle brake, while the other is a conventionally-molded two-part all-styrene affair. There is also a conventionally-molded sectional gun tube. The Topfblende (pot mantle) for the main gun can elevate after assembly, but there is one problem here: none of the parts to mount the gun are called out in the instruction diagrams, and most are shaded as not for use. They are parts H-3, -4, -5 and -6; they way they go together and where they are fitted should be obvious to all but the first-time modeler. Therefore, any gnashing of teeth, or swearing to the heavens regarding the lack of clear instructions, or the associated headaches, will be largely self-inflicted. Molding, Fit and Engineering. Detail and molding is up to the industrys current high standards, while the overall fit of the parts is excellent. Where it counts there are no visible knock-out pin marks; the mold seams are faint and easily cleaned. Accuracy and Details. Overall, the kit matches the drawings in the cited references reasonably well, with the caveat that said drawings are of limited use. Instructions. This is a relatively simple kit, with a moderate amount of parts. The instructions reflect this in that they are spread over six pages and only have 11 steps, not counting painting and markings information. The line drawings are clearly presented and should not be too much trouble for the modeler who has some experience with DMLs instructions. However, one major glitch is the lack of any assembly diagram for the parts that mount the main gun to the turret. I have already mentioned another spot where the instructions appear to have fallen short of expectations. Decals and Markings Information. The only decals provided are four small Balkenkreuze national insignia in the standard black/white configuration. Coming from Cartograf, the designs are in register, have crisp edges and thin, matte carrier film. Both color schemes are completely conjectural; one is overall Dunkelgelb and the other is based on Oxiderot base with Dunkelgelb and Olivgrun stripes. Again, colors are keyed to hobby paints from Gunze and Testors, and mixing guides are included. One point to take into consideration is the names of the colors as given in the instructions, since they can easily confuse. For instance: Khaki-Green on a Panzer? Conclusion. This is an interesting release, which is precisely the reason Cyberhobby white box limited edition kits exist. DML knows the market is not large and they know the appeal of the subject will not be broad. But, they also are sure enough of its appeal to believe that an injection-molded kit will not go amiss amongst those who have a fondness for all things German. - Frank V. De Sisto VK.45.02(P)V
Cyber-Hobby is a sister company of Dragon Models and Concord Publications, and owned by the same parent company UML. Dragon produce the plastic kits, and Cyber-Hobby has become an on-line retailer that sells their own versions of these kits as releases in any one of a number of different series. This particular kit is being released as a white box kit, i.e. it is a limited edition kit, and once it's sold out...it's gone. No more will be released...there will not be another production run....not unless a part is changed and it can be called something else. This Kit is basically one of an imagined or paper Panzer, i.e. based on development work actually performed, this kit represents what could be reasonably extrapolated from that work...or unreasonably some think. The kit contents consist of just four large sprues of grey styrene, two medium-sized ones, plus ten smaller ones. There are also two transparent sprues, a separate one-piece lower hull, two cupola's, aluminium barrel, large photo-etched fret and tiny decal sheet. There are also two runs of DS100 vinyl tracks. The box certainly doesn't feel as 'full' as some recent releases where it's sometimes awkward to even get the lid back on the box once opened. No such trouble with this one! Whilst I can understand the rationale behind releasing this kit as a white box limited edition, it is after all a paper Panzer....I can see a lot of modellers being slightly disappointed with the contents. The first thing that strikes you about the kit is that is gives the impression of almost being a premium kit release, this is probably because some of the sprues are quite old ones, coming from kits such as the old Dragon Elefant, kit #6126, although there is a brand new sprue containing the main deck of the vehicle along with some other smaller parts. The photo-etched fret and lower hull are brand new too. The instructions begin in the conventional manner, with the construction of the running gear onto the lower hull. As mentioned, the lower hull is a completely new tooling, and it sort of shows when compare to the running gear. Parts such as the roadwheels and the suspension bogies are cleanly moulded, and yet there's a fair amount of flash on the sprues themselves. Whilst I understand that this flash doesn't interfere with the parts, it just adds to the premium kit feel, and removes that initial enthusiasm that most modellers rightly feel when opening or beginning a new Dragon or Cyber-Hobby kit. Although this kit comes with the one-piece DS100 vinyl tracks, as anybody who has used these will know, they will still probably need adjusting once installed, so with that in mind, it's best not to cement the idler in position at this stage. It can be adjusted by virtue of an off-centre location, and some modellers will be tempted to cement this, even if they're fitting the tracks later in the build, purely because if they don't, it will keep dropping off, but they can be easily secured by positioning them, and cementing a strip of styrene to their centre, on the part that's inside the hull, so leaving them free to rotate, but still fixed to the hull. Once the running gear is complete, assembly moves on to the new deck, which itself is brand new, along with most of its smaller details. This stage also involves installing a fair amount of photo-etch from the brand new fret supplied, including all the various brackets for holding the tow ropes, which are supplied in the kit in the form of springy wire...I always like to replace these with aftermarket ones, which have been shown to help reduce blood pressure. Mind you...the wire ones do too...but usually by puncturing your circulatory system somewhere. There's no internal detail whatsoever provided with the kit, barring a fully detailed MG34 and mount for the co-driver...I'm not sure why, since absolutely none of this detail can be seen unless you take the turret off...and if you do that you'll probably notice a few other things missing. There are three very nicely etched grills for the engine deck provided on the PE fret too. All the on-vehicle tools for around the model are provided in two forms, with or without moulded on clamps. The ones without have photo-etched ones provided on the PE fret, which I find is a huge bonus as it means lots for the spares box, no having to source your own replacement clamps, and not having to shave off the moulded ones. Happy days. Moving up, the commander's cupola is next, in preparation for installing it on to the turret. Two slide-moulded examples are included, differing in that one has three tiny slits moulded into it, and I imagine these are drainage channels? Whichever one you use, it's a nicely detailed construction, with separate transparent periscopes, and AA gun ring mount. The turret itself is supplied as a large one-piece slide-moulded part, with excellent detail, the weld detail around the roof being particularly well done. When it comes to the main gun, we're offered three alternatives. There's the one-piece aluminium one that's supplied, or a choice of two plastic ones, both supplied in two halves with integral muzzle. One of these represents a one-piece barrel, the other a two-piece one with lower sleeve. Interestingly, the parts for fixing the gun into the turret shell are all supplied on the 'N' sprue, but no reference at all is made to these on the instructions? It's not difficult too difficult to work out though. The supplied fixing and breech are heavily simplified, and so if you do choose to fix them, you'll probably want to close the hatches anyway so that nobody will see them! The rear loaders/escape hatch is a extremely well detailed, being supplied with photo-etched parts to detail its inner surface, and a removable pistol port plug with tiny etched retaining chain. Markings-wise, we're only offered a tiny decal sheet with four Balkancreuz, although the instructions do depict two different schemes, one in a three-tone striped scheme, and one in overall dark yellow. Being a white box limited edition, there's probably going to be no problem in getting people to buy these. It will also be an enjoyable kit to build, although I imagine lots of modellers would want to add various add-on items. I still can't get over the feeling imparted by those wheel sprues that it's a sort of 'Premium' release though?
-Vinnie Branigan Copyright 1998-2011 Dragon Models Limited. All Rights Reserved |